Tag: Forgiveness

Excuses Can’t Be Forgiven

Jonathan Cahnby Jonathan Cahn

People often approach pastors with their problems, sharing their sins and how guilty they feel. And many ministers are tempted to say, “Oh, don’t feel so bad.” “God will understand.” “You couldn’t help yourself.” “You’ve been through so much.” That’s often the worst thing we can do. For Messiah died for real guilt – not because it was understandable, but because it wasn’t understandable. Not because we couldn’t help it, but because we could help it and chose to do it anyway. If we deny this, then we’re denying the cross and the price He paid. Guilt is real and sin is horrible.

We have to come to the point where we stop making excuses for sin and own up to it. Confess your sin. Let God do the redeeming. Sometimes the best thing in the world is to feel so terrible about sin that the only option you have left is to receive God’s grace and to really change. Give up your excuses. Trade them for something better – the blood, the grace, the repentance, the mercy and the power for new life.

Today’s Mission – Come clean with God today about your sins. Make an agreement that you will stop defending, stop making excuses or covering up your sins. Repent and receive His grace.

by Jonathan Cahn

Peace Through Repentance

David Wilkersonby David Wilkerson

“I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).

David was a man who knew how to repent. He constantly searched his heart before God and was quick to cry, “I’ve sinned, Lord. I stand in need of prayer.

Being repentant does not mean you simply try to make things right with the person you have wronged. No, it’s about making things right with God! He is the One who has been sinned against. Yes, we are to apologize to our brothers and sisters whenever we have wronged them, but, more importantly, we are to repent of our sin before God. David said, “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned” (Psalm 51:3-4).

David believed strongly in conducting heart-searchings — the hard discipline of digging out sin in his heart. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). He continually invited the Lord to examine every corner of his life.

Perhaps you search your heart on a regular basis, yet you come away from the Spirit’s dealing saying, “Thank goodness, I’m clean. I don’t have any more sin in me.” If that is the case, beloved, you are deceived. Isaiah confessed, “For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our iniquities, we know them” (Isaiah 59:12). The prophet was saying, “We know all about our own sins.” Of course, God knows when we say or do wrong things but we know it, too.

A great benefit of repentance is receiving peace and strength. After Daniel had prayed and fasted in great agony, Jesus came to him, touched him and said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong” (Daniel 10:19).

A truly repentant heart never has to hide from the Lord because there is no longer any fear of judgment. When you acknowledge your sins, evidence godly sorrow and make restitution, Jesus will look at you, just as he did at Daniel, and say, “I love you and I want to give you my peace. Now, stand up and be strong!

by David Wilkerson